MONASTERIES OF SAINT MARY, KRK

Franciscan monastery on Košljun
On the island of Krk, in Puntarska draga, only 90 meters from Punat,
is the island of Košljun (0.06 km2) with its significant monastery.
Archaeological finds, stone capitals (8th century) and ruins of the
Benedictine Abbey from the Church of Saint Bernadine, in addition to
the ruins of a triple nave church (11th/12th centuries) in the
Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary all testify to
the traces of ancient civilizations. Legends take the historical
tale back even further into the past.
The Frankopans wrote a new page in history here, particularly John
and his daughter Catharine (15th century), with their contributions
and donation of lands to the Franciscan monks, who with great care
and nurturing have protected and adapted the monastery to the
present day.

Košljun is an attractive tourism destination, in addition to a
comforting spiritual and religious centre. The space is a valuable
natural (natural park), cultural and spiritual location, which is
meant to inspire the visitor with its “peace and goodness” from the
arrival at the dock and which is only enriched with each step taken
on the small island.
Košljun reveals archaeological, naturalist, numismatic, and
ethnographic exhibits (declared a cultural monument!). The largest
and oldest library on the Island of Krk (more than 30,000 volumes,
valuable parchment documents, incunabula, Glagolithic inscriptions,
rare atlases by Ptolomy and Straban, 16th century, significant
collection of musical scores, 11th -13th centuries, Košljun
madrigal) are located here.

In the Church of Saint Bernadine, on display in the exhibition space
are the Hebrew Bible, 11th century; missal and breviary, 16th
century; wooden relief sculpture of exceptional value (16th century);
crucifix from the 12th century; and Saint Jerusalem from the 16th
century. On the path from the seashore to the cloister, in the
Chapel of Parturition, there are valuable fragments of a manger
(16th century). The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary (16th century) is another Košljun treasury filled with
valuables of individual expressions.
On the main altar is a polyptych depicting the Mother of God in
Heavenly Glory, surrounded by angels and followed by Franciscan
saints (work by D. De Santa Crocea, 16th century), a large
composition of Judgement Day (work by F. Ughettia, 17th century) and
six other valuable altars. The artistic achievement of the Stations
of the Cross is the exceptional work by Ivo Dulčić (20th century).

The chapels in the Košljun parks are all of particular importance:
the Holy Cross (Jerusalem, 16th century), Saint Francis (17th
century) and the Lourdes cave (20th century) located at the site of
the old Chapel of Saint Anne.

In its more recent heritage, Košljun is known for having the first
Croatian secondary school (1894) in the area of Istria and the
Kvarner islands, as well as for the tale of the Košljun posujilnici
(17th-19th centuries), a monetary fund for impoverished parishioners.

Monastery open:
From Easter to 1 November from 9:30-18:00
In the winter, please contact the monastery

How to get here:
boat from Punat

Accommodations:
hotels, private accommodations and camps in Punat

Monastery publications: work by author Petar Strčić

For a beautiful flower I continued on,
On one jump of light, I moved myself,
In one beautiful dream, I kept it from myself,
I divided myself, in order to give to you
Nikola Bonifačić Rožin

Franciscan Monastery, Glavotok
On the westernmost part of the Island of Krk (Šotovento), towards
Valbiska, is the Church (16th century) and monastery of the
Franciscan Tertiary (Glagolithic monks) order, constructed (15th
century) at the location of the old Franciscan summer villa and
chapel (14th century). The Paulists spent a short time here (about
1479) and the Franciscans have been present for over 550 years. In
this church, one must see the marble altar with the painting of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus (work by M. Da Verona, 16th
century) and the old graveyard next to the church; a must see is the
special park reserve of holm oak. On display in the monastery are
pictures, liturgical items, and Glagolithic inscriptions.
The main celebrations are on Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8
December), on the Feast of Our Lady of Angels, Procijunkula (2
August), and on the Feast of the Assumption (15 August).

The church is open from 10:00-12:00 and from 15:00-17:00.
Info tel: 051/862 102

The Saint Mary Magdalene Franciscan Monastery Port on the Dubašnica River
Tertiary order displays valuable items, including the polyptych of
Saint Mary Magdalene and other saints (work by G. And F. Santa
Crosea, 16th century) on the main altar, the side altars of Saint
Nicholas and Saint Rock (18th century) and the Gothic wooden
crucifix. Of special note are the large toš, the mill and press for
the production of olive oil, the ethnography
collection and the museum with valuable artefacts (clay Illyrian
vases, canoe-boat carved from a single tree) and the collection of
stone monuments with copies of the oldest
Croatian Glagolithic inscriptions. The main celebration is on Feast
of Mary Magdalene (22 July).
Info tel: 051/ 867 048, 859 207

Franciscan Monastery, Krk
The Franciscans were first mentioned in Krk in 1277. The Franciscan
single nave church (13th century) was constructed
next to the Upper Gates of the town of Krk, and there is a wooden
pulpit with inlaid wood and a painting of the Madonna with saints (work
by B. Lucini).
Info tel: 051/ 221 240, 221 414